David Pocock will not risk re-injuring his left knee by rushing back to rugby after successful surgery expected to sideline him for up to nine months.

Pocock, 24, underwent a two-hour knee reconstruction in Brisbane on Thursday night to repair the anterior cruciate ligament he ruptured in the Brumbies' 35-6 Super Rugby win over New South Wales. He opted against radical LARS surgery that could have seen him back in the frame to play the three-Test series against the British & Irish Lions that kicks off on June 22.

"I'm pleased to have the surgery out of the way," Pocock said in a statement. "Now I need to rest up and get myself ready to start the rehabilitation process. The key thing is that I'm patient and don't try to rush back. If that means season over, in terms of playing any more rugby this year, then so be it. Once I get into the rehabilitation, we'll see how it goes."

Waratahs flanker Michael Hooper, who started for the Wallabies in Pocock's absence for much of last year, and Queensland's in-form Liam Gill are vying for the No.7 jersey against the Lions. Brumbies veteran George Smith is ineligible for Test selection due to the terms of his contract with Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath